Report on maternal mortality in Wales.

  • Great Britain. Welsh Board of Health.
Date:
1937
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on maternal mortality in Wales. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    9/162 page 7
    DESCRIPTIVE AND GENERAL. Nature and Scope of Inquiry. Method of Investigation. The investigation into maternal mortality in Wales described in this report covered the whole of Wales. An attempt has been made to examine all the influences which might have an effect upon the risk of the mother in pregnancy and childbirth, and from such examination to consider whether there are any special factors which might account for the high puerperal mortality general in Wales. Personal visits were made to all the county and county borough areas, and a detailed survey was made of the maternity and child welfare services provided or subsidised by the Local Authorities. In the course of the survey the various hospitals, institutions, homes and clinics which make provision for mid- wifery and allied services were visited, and interviews held with officials and other persons concerned with maternity work. Opinions were obtained as far as possible from medical practitioners and consultants who have had experience of mid- wifery practice. Much information has been obtained from the records of the public health authorities and from voluntary organisations engaged in maternity work, as well as from the Medical Officers of the various Authorities, the supervisors of midwives, health visitors, sanitary inspectors, district nursing associations, con- sultants and medical practitioners, and others who have so readily given assistance. The records of the cases attended by midwives in 1934 have been readily available and have proved of great value. The methods of keeping records varied in different districts, and some difficulty has been found in presenting the material in a convenient form for comparative purposes. Authonties admimsterning Maternity Services. The Local Authority for the exercise of powers contained in the Maternity and Child Welfare Act is the same as the Autho- rity for the Notification of Births Act, and in some counties functions are divided between county councils and district councils according to the readiness with which the Authorities adopted the Notification of Births Act. At the present time maternity and child welfare functions are administered by the four county borough councils, by ten county councils in respect
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3